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New food and dining developments are taking place all across Maine. Here are some recent updates to keep you in the know:
- A new ice cream shop called Half Pint Giant (instagram) is under construction in Brunswick. It will be located at 147.5 Maine Street (above right) in the space formerly occupied by The Frappe Shop. They plan to offer hard serve and soft serve ice cream with “unique and nostalgic” toppings, parfaits, sundaes, milkshakes and custom mixed sodas. The owners of Half Pint hope to launch in early April.
- Spun Bakery (website, facebook, instagram) has taken over the 175-year old building at 11 Mechanics Street (above left) in Freeport where owner Don Gaile plans to open a retail bakery this June. Gaile initially launched Spun out of his home kitchen in 2016 and this is the next step in scaling up his business. The new space will have seating for 15 and Gaile is planning to expand the menu to also include savory dishes like frittata, toasts made on house made Japanese milk bread, and croissant sandwiches.
- Bintliff’s Corner Brew in Gardiner has been building out a new seating area. The “Conservatory” will provide an addition 15 seats in a sunny room constructed with reclaimed beams, a roof sourced from an mill building in Lewiston, and a circular window that is a design echo of the one in the nearby Gardiner library.
- Aragosta chef Devin Finigan is serving a 9-course tasting menu at the Norumbega on Saturday March 14th.
- Fish & Whistle is holding a 4-course lunch and learn called Eating Invasives. The meal will feature locally harvested invasive species, and it will be complemented with a presentation by marine biologist Aubrey Jane. The event is taking place May 31st and tickets are available online.
- Biddeford Saco Restaurant Week is taking place March 15 – 22.
- The Biddo Foodies have published a field report from the Blushing Hen farm and bakery stand in Lyman.
- The Bangor Daily News has a report on The Rolling Pin Cafe and Bakery (facebook) which recently opened in Winterport. They serve breakfast and lunch and are located at 145 Main Street. “The Norrises have plans to make the spot even more of a community hub in the coming months. They’re scoping out dates for evening painting workshops, and will open their outdoor patio with seating in the spring. They are also planning to host a farmers’ market in their parking lot.”
- The Press Herald has published an article about Lotso Tacos which opened on Main Street in Yarmouth in last fall., and an article about the Ogunquit food scene.
- As reported on Thursday, the owners of Yosaku and in the final stretch to launch their new Japanese grill and sushi restaurant called Makoto (instagram). Makoto is located on Cottage Road in South Portland and will be opening in April.
- As reported this past Sunday, the owner of Taj will be launching a cafe in South Portland called Cobblestone Coffee & Company.
For a statewide guide to eating and drinking see the Maine Food Map—a growing list of 100+ coffee shops, bars, restaurants, bakeries, cafes, plus other food and dining businesses in all of Maine’s 16 counties.